Leeds United fans will agree with Lee Johnson on Bristol City’s penalty shout in the second half of Saturday’s loss when they watch it back.
That is Johnson’s own view after seeing Luke Ayling’s alleged handball in the Whites box. It was a crucial refereeing error in the Bristol boss’s eyes.
Johnson acknowledged United were by far the better side and good value for their lead, but could not let go of referee Tim Robinson’s decision, which would have, he says, changed the match’s momentum.
“It’s an unbelievably bad decision from the referee, the penalty,” he said.
“It’s 100 per cent a penalty. Ayling’s handball. When all the press and the fans and anybody watches that you will see that.
“Again, I’m not discrediting Leeds because they were very, very good, but that is an action in the game that could potentially swing the momentum.
“The referee has to get that right in a game as big as this one. Not just the referee, but his assistant and his fourth official that’s looking right down the barrel as we are.
“When you see it on video it’s ridiculous how it’s not a penalty.”
Aside from his praise for Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s dominance, Johnson did dig out several of his own players for hiding in possession.
He also revealed there had been illnesses in the Bristol camp leading up to Saturday’s match.
“Leeds were the better side throughout the game,” he said.
“In the first 15, 20 minutes we didn’t accept we needed to do certain things and have a certain amount of bravery to go and influence the game.
“That was the bit that really disappointed me. We got done with too many one-twos down the sides.
“A couple hid, to be honest, in possession and you could see a couple on the pitch shouldn’t have been there due to the bugs and the illnesses we had in the camp over the last couple of days.
“At half-time I wasn’t best pleased. That’s not discrediting Leeds because they were very good, but my side didn’t play like a Bristol City side I want them to play.
“At half-time it was quite a strong message, really, to have some, well I won’t use the exact phrase, but some guts and actually get on the ball to play as we know we can.
“We did that in the second half, for most part of the second half. We actually made a game of it.”
